TNA mourns death of veteran Trinco Tamil activist

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 December 2002, 21:21 GMT]
"At a time when we are at the doorstep of finding a just, permanent and lasting solution to the Tamil national question through talks between the United National Front (UNF) government and the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) Trincomalee Tamils have lost a veteran activist who has worked for the political emancipation of his community for about fifty years," said the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group leader Mr.R.Sampanthan paying Homage to Mr. Subramaniam Gunanayagam Sunday evening.

The funeral of Tamil activist and social worker Mr.S.Gunanayagam was held Sunday evening at Trincomalee Hindu Cemetery amidst large gathering. Mr. Gunanayagam was a founder member of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi. Later he became a member of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF). At the time of his death he was a member of the central working committee of the TULF.

TNA parliamentary group leader and Trinco distrct parliamentarian Mr. R.Sampanthan (second from left) and TNA national list parliamentarian Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham (third from left) are seen paying last respects to Mr.S.Gunanayagam.

"Mr. Gunanayagam accepted the leadership of Thanthai Chelvanayakam, founder of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi in 1952. He played a leading role in the 1960 non-violent freedom struggle (satyagraha) launched by the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (Federal Party) to regain the lost rights of Tamils. Later he accepted that the armed freedom struggle was the only way to regain the lost rights of Tamils," said Mr.Sampanthan delivering his funeral speech.

TNA national list parliamentarian Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham in his speech said, "Mr. Gunanayagam worked hard for the political independence of Tamils. The vacuum created in the Trincomalee Tamil political scene with the death of Mr. Gunanayagam cannot be fulfilled easily. His death is an irreparable loss not only to his family but also to the whole Tamils in the northeast."

Retired Divisional Educational Officer Mr. A. Parasuraman presided. Mr.K.Ratnalingam spoke on behalf of Trincomalee journalists.